Watermills and ancient churches are just some of the joys Sue Greenwood found on a journey to Pateley Bridge
WE FANCIED A long weekend away to take advantage of a good weather forecast, so we headed for the Yorkshire Dales.
Our chosen destination was Pateley Bridge, in Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It really is beautiful, so when you visit, prepare to enjoy the splendid views!
We based ourselves at Riverside Caravan Park, a short walk from the town. The site offers a mixture of hardstanding and grass pitches, all with 10A power supply and a few fully serviced. Riverside is beautifully kept, with a good amenities block and reception.
Adjacent to the touring pitches is a large area housing static caravans, but these were mostly unoccupied when we visited, so the place was especially quiet and peaceful.
Heritage walking trails
We’ve visited Pateley Bridge before, but don’t know the area very well, so we were keen to explore on the Saturday morning.
A pretty riverside footpath runs past the site, and this soon leads you into Pateley Bridge. Even a relaxed saunter would get you onto the main street in 10 minutes.
I had done a bit of research before arriving and downloaded a couple of walks to explore Pateley Bridge and the surrounding area.
The Pateley Bridge Heritage Trails are two excellent walks: the Inner Trail, a short route around the town, and the Outer Trail, which takes you further afield (and up a steep hill).
We stopped to enjoy the view several times on the way – that was our excuse, anyway. We should have known what to expect when the trail advises you to follow the sign for the Panorama Walk! Actually, on the way up the hill, the view is obscured by trees and bushes, so perhaps ‘panorama’ is a bit of a misnomer.
St Mary’s Church
After climbing the hill, you reach a cemetery on the left, which is the ‘new’ cemetery, where most of the gravestones seem to date from the late 19th century. There are more amazing views over the town from here.
Just past there, on the left, you come to a small gate and a footpath leading to the ruins of the ancient church of St Mary’s. This hidden gem was the highlight of the walk for us.
The church dates back to the 14th century, although it is possible that a place of worship stood here l
